Jacobs the Jewellers, the oldest independent jewellery retailer in the southern English town of Reading, has announced the two winners of its annual Emerging Designer Competition.
The sixth edition of the competition in 2020 delivered a new experience, being totally online and allowing international participation.
Over 1,000 votes were cast during June, well over double the previous record.
The results were as follows:
Jewellery Winner – Rebecca Oldfield: earrings + brooch
Silver Winner – Sarah Shelton-Palmer: wine carafe
Five Bishopsland designers took part in the competition presented on www.jacobsthejewellers.com during June.
Each participant showcased an item of silver as well as a piece of jewellery.
Over the week long voting period, visitors to the website voted for their favourite jewellery design as well as their preferred silver object.
The winners each received £350 of HS Walsh vouchers to spend on tools or materials to help establish their careers in the jewellery and silver industry plus a framed presentation certificate.
These were presented in a live video call – another first for the competition.
The event synchronised with Jelly’s Open for Art cultural programme, a firmly established arts event in Reading.
The competition has been made possible in support of the Bishopsland Educational Trust through the initiative of Jacobs the Jewellers, the Goldsmiths’ Centre and HS Walsh.
